Can You Paint Watercolor on Regular Paper?
Regular paper usually pills, wrinkles and allows colour to sit unevenly because it is not sized for watercolor.
Regular paper usually pills, wrinkles and allows colour to sit unevenly because it is not sized for watercolor.
Keep paper flat, dry and protected from dust, sunlight and humidity.
Many mould-made sheets have a slightly more textured felt side and a smoother reverse.
Water makes paper fibres expand, and uneven drying leaves waves behind.
Student paper is economical for notes, swatches and repeated practice.
Pads are convenient for practice, blocks hold the edges while you work, and full sheets offer the lowest cost per painting when cut down.
Paper weight describes thickness, not quality.
Cotton paper usually absorbs water more evenly and withstands reworking better than wood-pulp paper.
Cold-pressed paper has visible texture and suits general beginner work.
Choose paper made for watercolor, not general drawing paper.